The Journal News published the names and addresses of registered gun owners in two New York counties. The paper secured the names of residents in Westchester and Rockland counties under the Freedom of Information act.

The Journal News covers a region of the state of New York known as the Lower Hudson Valley. The kind of firearms owned was not made public… whether they were long guns for hunting or hand guns  present in a home for home defense.

I’m frank to say I can’t see the purpose of this kind of journalism. At its best it seems pointless and at its worst it seems dangerous…leading potential gun thieves to locations where guns might be stolen or, by elimination, to unprotected residences.

Does this reporting make it any easier to effect reasonable gun laws,such as the banning of assault rifles and  twenty-round magazines, or does it reinforce the NRA argument that “they’re out to get your guns.” Are the citizens any safer now that they know their neighbors are armed?

I’m interested in hearing what readers think about the story.